Game apparatus



- (ModeL) M. T. POOTB. Game Apparatus.

No. 227,159! Patented May 4,1880.

LITHQGRAPME UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARY T. FOOTE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,159, dated May 4, 1880.

Application filed March 4, 1880. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, lVIARY T. FOOTE, of Boston, in the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is for the purpose of playing an educational game, the object of which is to familiarize the young with the multiplicationtable in an entertaining manner.

It consists in a series of twelve trays, laid side by side in a flat box, each tray containing thirty-six blocks, in rows of three, thus making twelve rows in each tray, each row being a sum of multiplication, the whole representing the multiplication-table. Thus the fourth row in the fourth tray would read as follows: first block, 4 times; second block, 4 are; third block, 16.

WVhen it is desired to combine amusement with instruction, the game may be played as follows: Remove the last lower right block in any tray, mix the rest, and move them into correct position, after which the last block may be replaced.

In the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game apparatus embodying my improyement, with the first and last trays filled and the others empty. Fig. 2 is a view of the fourth tray filled and removed from the box.

a is a shallow box provided with a cover, (not shown in the drawings,) and having finger-holes a to assist in the removal of the first tray.

1) I) are twelve trays, containing blocks as follows: Tray first contains twelve rows of blocks. The first row is as follows: block 1, 1 times, block 2, l is, block 3, 1. The last row contains three blocks, saying, 1 times 12 is 12. Thus the tray contains thirtysix blocks. The second tray begins 2 times 1, 850., and thus in order up to the twelfth tray, beginning with 12 times 1 and ending With 12 times 12 are 144.

Each of these trays and their contents make a complete apparatus for playing one of the series of the games, and of course one or more may be in use at the same time.

In Fig. 2 the last-numbered block 48 is removed. The blocks are then to be mixed, and may be restored by moving into their proper order, thus inculcating arithmetical knowledge in a pleasing manner.

Ribbons c are attached to the trays to facilitate their removal.

I am aware that it is not novel to produce a game apparatus in which blocks are to be mixed and then replaced by a series of moves; also, that it is not novel to number such blocks, as in the game of '15, so called, where the fifteen numbers are first mixed and then moved into place.

I am also aware of the existence of puzzleblocks having letters or designs on theirsurfaces, said blocks being placed in a surroundin g frame having means for holding them together and adapted to be moved (one move at a time) at right angles to the sides of the frame into a vacant space left for the purpose, as shown in Letters Patent numbered 207,124, granted August 20, 1878.

Education-tables have also been known, one being described in Letters Patent numbered 6,407, dated May 1, 1849, in which sliding types having figures on their surfaces are adapted to be moved so as to multiplythe figures upon one set of arranged type multiplied by the figures on another type or set of types producing a resultshown on another set of arranged types; but A WVhat I claim as my improvement, and for which I desire to secure Letters Patent, is

Thehereinbefore-described arithmetical game apparatus, consisting of a shallow box, a, and a series of twelve trays, I), having handles 0, and containing several rows of numbered blocks, each transverse row comprising three blocks, the first two exhibiting numbers to be multiplied and the third the result, the said trays being arranged in their order in the hold ing-box, substantially as shown, and for the purpose specified.

MARY T. FOOTE.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. WILLIAMS, JOHN M. ROBERTSON. 

